Exegesis
Exegesis is the scholarly method of interpreting written texts to uncover the original meaning intended by the author at the time of writing. This approach is particularly significant in the study of ancient and sacred texts, such as the Bible and the Quran. Exegesis involves analyzing the text in its original language and considering the historical, cultural, and social contexts surrounding its initial audience. This process may include examining the author's background, the intended readership, and the events occurring during the time of writing.
The term "exegesis" originates from Greek, meaning "to interpret," illustrating its focus on deriving meaning from the text rather than imposing contemporary interpretations. This contrasts with eisegesis, where readers inject their own interpretations into the text, potentially leading to misinterpretations. Through exegetical study, individuals seek to preserve the authenticity of the text's message while making it accessible to modern readers, who may lack familiarity with the customs and practices of ancient societies. Overall, exegesis serves as a critical tool for those wishing to understand religious texts deeply and accurately, ensuring that the lessons they convey remain relevant across time.
Exegesis
Exegesis is a method of studying a written document to understand what it meant at the time it was originally written. It often involves studying the work in the language in which it first appeared or with the aid of a reference text that can help in understanding the meaning of the words in that language. Exegetical study includes learning about the history and culture of the first readers or audience of the work, which helps in developing a fuller understanding of the meaning of the work as its author intended. While exegetical study can be performed on any written work, the concept is most often associated with the study of ancient or sacred texts, particularly the Bible and Quran. Religious leaders who study sacred texts often perform exegesis to teach others through sermons or other lessons, but it may be performed by anyone interested in gaining a better understanding of a text.
Background
The word exegesis comes from two Greek words: ex, meaning "out of," and hegeisthai, meaning "to guide or lead." The Greeks combined the two words to form the word exegeisthai, later shortened to exegesis, meaning "to interpret." In the seventeenth century, scholars adopted the word from the Greek and applied it to the study of ancient and biblical texts.
Determining exactly when people started to apply the principles of exegetical study to sacred texts is difficult, but it likely began centuries ago. The Jewish Bible, also known as the Christian Old Testament, includes examples of prophets interpreting earlier parts of the same text for their contemporaries. Others used this detailed study of scripture as a personal spiritual practice. For instance, the book of Ezra states that Ezra prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord in preparation for obeying and teaching God's law (Ezra 7:10). This means he studied what was written in scriptures and attempted to understand what God meant and what God wanted him to do.
Exegesis is similar to hermeneutics in that it involves the study of ancient sacred texts. However, while exegesis focuses on understanding the text with regard to its original audience, hermeneutics focuses on finding an ancient sacred text's meaning for contemporary times. For example, the Christian Bible makes references to meals Jesus shared with tax collectors and prostitutes (Mark 2:13–17, Matthew 9:10–11). A hermeneutical study of these texts would involve exegesis to understand the original meaning and would reveal that such people were considered low in social status and that most people of rank or importance would not be associated with them. Applying the principles of hermeneutics, the scholar might determine that Jesus dined with these groups to bring God's message of love and forgiveness to those who needed it most. As a result, the scholar would likely conclude that the best way to apply this passage of scripture to contemporary times would be to share the same message of God's love and forgiveness with those considered low in social status today, such as the homeless, refugees, or prisoners.
The opposite of exegesis is eisegesis. Whereas ex in the word exegesis means "out of," ei in eisegesis comes from the Green ein, which means "into." Someone who reads a text eisegetically adds his or her own interpretation into the text instead of looking for what was originally meant. This can easily result in misinterpretations, which are then used to support social or political positions on issues. Engaging in exegetical study can help determine the original intent and prevent such misinterpretations.
Overview
Exegesis helps people better understand a written document by determining what the original author wanted to communicate. While it can be helpful in understanding works of literature, such as ancient poems or plays, and other historical writings, it is most often applied to the study of sacred texts. Determining and understanding the meaning of these texts is important to people who see them as a form of communication from a divine being. These texts are thought to have meaning not only for those who first heard or read them but also for people living today. The fact that they were written centuries ago, however, usually means that explanation and interpretation are necessary. For instance, many people in the twenty-first century are unfamiliar with the eating and social customs of the ancient Middle East that are often mentioned in sacred texts. People may not understand the farming, fishing, and shepherding activities practiced by those who are mentioned in these texts. This lack of knowledge and understanding can make the texts challenging for twenty-first century readers.
Exegetical study involves several steps. In some cases, the first step is to read the text in its original language because many contemporary versions of the text have been subjected not only to translations but also to interpretations that can create subtle changes in meaning. The Christian Bible, for example, is available in dozens of translations and different formats.
For those who do not know Greek, Hebrew, classical Arabic, or another language used in ancient sacred texts, many resources are available that provide direct translations or that can be used to look up specific words. The words used, the way they are used, and the grammar that surrounds them can be important in discerning the original author's meaning. At the same time, scholars consider the fact that these words were written down and then copied by hand, sometimes many times, before reaching their modern form. To account for this, some scholars will study multiple versions of the same passage to look for mistakes or misinterpretations of handwriting before determining meaning.
The next step is to examine the context in which the text was written. This may include understanding the background of the author, his or her intended audience, and the historical events of the time. It helps to know whether other sources corroborate the events. This applies to the study of secular works, such as ancient Greek or Roman plays, too.
Once a scholar understands this background, his or her next step in the exegetical study is to apply certain guidelines to the text to better understand it. For example, when studying a religious work, the scholar applies theological guidelines, or the accepted truths about that religion. Finally, the scholar combines all the information that he or she has gathered to form an analysis of the text.
Bibliography
Bacher, Wilhelm, et al. "Bible Exegesis." Jewish Encyclopedia, www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3263-bible-exegesis. Accessed 19 May 2017.
Bouma, Jeremy. "Exegesis and Hermeneutics: The Bible Interpreter's Two Most Important Tasks." Zondervan Academic, 8 July 2014, zondervanacademic.com/blog/biblical-interpretation-exegesis-and-hermeneutics/. Accessed 19 May 2017.
Duduit, Michael. "What Is Biblical Preaching? Exegesis vs. Exposition." Christianity Today, 13 Mar. 2017, www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2017/march/biblical-preaching-duduit.html. Accessed 19 May 2017.
"Exegesis Definition." Bible Study, www.biblestudy.org/beginner/definition-of-christian-terms/exegesis.html. Accessed 19 May 2017.
Idestrom, Rebecca G. S. "Biblical Interpretation: Interpreting and Applying the Biblical Text." Tyndale Seminary, www.tyndale.ca/sites/default/files/Bib%20Int%20Exegesis%20Guidelines‗0.pdf. Accessed 19 May 2017.
Kranz, Jeffrey. "What Is Exegesis—and Why Should I Care?" LogosTalk, 21 Nov. 2012, blog.logos.com/2012/11/what-is-exegesis-and-why-should-i-care/. Accessed 19 May 2017.
"Steps in Doing Exegesis." Boston University School of Theology, www.bu.edu/sthlibrary/guidesold/how-to-write-exegesis/. Accessed 19 May 2017.
"What Are the Differences Between Exegesis and Eisegesis?" Christian Media Magazine, 17 Dec. 2014, christianmediamagazine.com/differences-exegesis-eisegesis/. Accessed 19 May 2017.